WTAM Local News

Akron man convicted of poison scare

(Cleveland) - A northeast Ohio man accused of producing ricin has been convicted of having the biological toxin for use as a weapon.

Federal prosecutors in Cleveland say a jury also convicted 58-year-old Jeff Boyd Levenderis of having ricin and making false statements to FBI agents when he denied making the deadly toxin.

Prosecutors say Levenderis produced ricin at his Akron home and kept it in a freezer until FBI agents recovered it in January 2011.

Prosecutors say evidence showed Levenderis planned to use ricin against his stepfather. They say he also planned to set a house fire in an elaborate suicide plan and intended to use ricin against emergency responders.